UNESCO World Heritage treasure, the Great Barrier Reef, may be the best known natural wonder in Queensland, if not Australia. It draws huge numbers of guests per year, with a significant percentage of the 24 million visitors that visit the state each year spending time at the reef. But Queensland, in Australia’s north-east, is home to some fabulous hidden jewels beyond the Great Barrier Reef that are ideal for unique and off-the-beaten path experiences. Here’s our top 5 hidden gems in Queensland:
Mission Beach
Set along the Coral Sea, south of Cairns, Mission Beach consists of four seaside villages: Bingil Bay, Mission Beach Village, South Mission, and Wongaling, set across eight miles of golden sands between the West Tropics of Queensland, including the Daintree, and the Great Barrier Reef. Together, they offer the perfect place for relaxation- find a hammock, a good book, and get lost in Australia’s quinessential beach culture for a few days. Mission Beach is also a great jumping off point for Hinchinbrook National Park, one of Australia’s largest island national parks. The region is also really family-friendly.
Far North Queensland is especially abundant in wildlife, and is a bird lover’s paradise. It’s home to the unique cassowary, one of Australia’s largest and dangerous birds. If you are lucky enough to see a cassowary- keep your distance! These large, flightless birds are similar in size to the ostrich, and their unbelievably strong legs and sharp claws can do serious damage to their prey- or to humans.
Mamu Tropical Skywalk
Located within Wooroonooran National Park in Innisfail, about an hour from Mission Beach, the Mamu Tropical Skywalk offers guests the opportunity to explore the World Heritage rainforest below by walking a series of 1,148-foot-long elevated walkways, a cantilever bridge, and an over 121-foot-high observation tower. Take in jaw-dropping panoramic views of North Johnstone River Gorge and the lush rainforests of the area. The full walk takes about an hour and a half, although it can be done in parts.
Numinbah Valley, Gondwana Rainforest
An amazing place for photography, the Numinbah Valley is world-renowned for its remarkable diversity of plants and animals, including pademelons (small rainforest wallabies) and glow worms. Near the Natural Bridge of Springbrook National Park, you can see countless tiny, brilliant blue-green lights at night that decorate the rocky overhangs, ceiling and precipitous earth banks. The lights come from Arachnocampa glow worms, found only here and in New Zealand, and they rely on the rainforest for survival.
Undara Volcanic National Park
‘Undara’ is an Aboriginal word that means “long way”, and it’s a unique, albeit remote, Queensland park. The park is about 300km from Cairns, but could be a great addition to a QLD roadtrip.
Undara is home to one of the world’s largest lave tube cave formations, created by an ancient volcano. The tubes have created epic natural arches that are unlike anywhere else, and the area unique ecosystem is also home to rock wallabies, bats, birds, and owls.
You’ll discover lots of opportunities for postcard-perfect photos here as you walk the miles of trails through the fascinating landscape with towering archways that dates back millions of years. While camping isn’t available, there is accommodation in the area.
If you’re driving up to Queensland from Sydney, consider stopping off at Byron Bay and the Gold Coast– two iconic Aussie beach areas.
Eden Health Retreat
If you want to enjoy a mix of relaxing and more active pursuits, a health retreat may be just the answer. Eden Health Retreat is a true hidden treasure, located in the vibrant green Currumbin Valley. It focuses on holistic health, providing a variety of healing therapies, such as massage, meditation, personal counseling and decadent spa treatments.
Guests can also enjoy hiking, kayaking, restorative yoga, cycling, a flying fox course or even ride a giant swing that soars over the treetops of the rainforest.
What is your favourite place to visit in Queensland?
Very interesting – definitely want to come back